But programs can rise and fall quickly, and perception contributes to both. And this is the kind of season that can really damage what Dantonio has built.

That’s more of a concern for the Spartans if they can’t follow up today’s 23-20 loss to Northwestern – a fifth Big Ten loss by a total of 13 points – with a win at Minnesota to get to a bowl game (probably the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl, Dec. 29 in Tempe, Ariz.)

You don’t want this season’s epitaph to read: From Rose Bowl to No Bowl. The Spartans were focused on Pasadena after falling inches short of it a year ago, and now they are stunningly in danger of a losing season.

You already have to recruit against Michigan, Notre Dame and Ohio State in your immediate region. You’re already fighting for attention and respect.

You’re facing a critical 2013 season, a chance to prove that 2010-11 wasn’t an aberration built on the back of an overlooked, once-in-a-career leader and quarterback. First, you need to keep the bowl streak alive, get the bowl practices, avoid official football disaster.

Today actually was different. MSU did a lot of good things on offense, got push up front, got the ball to a healthy Dion Sims (five catches, 102 yards), made some big plays. But the Spartans turned it over four times.

That hasn’t been the losing formula for most of the season. The Spartans had a total of 12 turnovers in the first 10 games of the season and were plus-2.

Take away the Boise State game, which saw four MSU turnovers, and the Spartans had eight in the next nine weeks.

But when you’re losing, you’re finding ways to lose. The Spartans keep doing it, and they’ve run out of different ways to explain it.

Contact Joe Rexrode: 313-222-2625 or jrexrode@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @joerexrode. Check out his MSU blog at freep.com/heyjoe.